Xing Chen’s 11-minute short, Beleave Me, is to feature in the student showcase at the Yonkers Film Festival (YoFi Fest) on Sunday.

The film was triggered by the devastating news she received while in Newcastle that her mother, back home in Singapore, had been diagnosed with breast cancer.

“She is fine now but it was obviously a very difficult time for all my family,” said Xing. “This film is a way of channelling my feelings and sharing them with a wider audience.”

In the film, a young man who is far from home struggles with the news that his mother is refusing medical intervention for a life-threatening disease on religious grounds.

Xing, who directed and produced the film, hired professional actors for the film which was shot at locations around Newcastle and on Hadrian’s Wall. The 28-year-old has just completed a PhD at Newcastle University’s Institute of Neuroscience, spending five years in the city. She said before flying out that film-making had become a hobby, although Beleave Me was her first film.

“I was inspired by my friends, some of whom are cameramen and independent film-makers. It is very gratifying that my work has been recognised in this way.”

Xing, who is currently deciding on her next move after completing her studies, said Beleave Me had also been chosen for a festival in Orlando, Florida, in November.